Automatic winding mechanism for watches



April 23, 1957 s. cAcHELlN AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES FiledFeb. 2. 1953 1 3/ laas-213032363940 f/ z IHVEHTORI GERARD CACHELJHUnited States Patent AUTOMATIC WINDING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES GrardCachelin, Le Locle, Switzerland, assignor to Ch. Tissot & fils S. A., LeLocle, Switzerland Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,655Claims priority, application Switzerland February 6, 1952 Claims. (Cl.58..82)

This invention relates to .automatic winding mechanisms for watches inwhich the winding operation is automatically assured rby the`displacements in `both directions of a weight pivoting about a xedaxis.

The present invention is more particularly' concerned with automaticwinding mechanisms of a type in which the displacements in `bothdirections o the movable weight yare converted into unidirectionalrotations of a gear wheel by means of a driving pinion fixed to theweight, two pinions pivoted on a rocker, and a countergear, thiscounter-gear and said gear wheel being in meshing relation with oneanother and being pivoted both in two bridges fixed to the frame of thewatch movement.

This type of Vautomatic winding mechanism is further characterised inthat said driving pinion is coaxial to the weight and said rocker pivotscoaxially to the weight, both pinions carried by the rocker beingpermanently in meshing relation with said driving pinion. Eventually thetwo pinions carried by the rocker alternately comes in meshing relationone with said counter-gear and the other with said gear wheel, accordingto the direction in which said weight is moving.

An automatic winding mechanism of this type has already been disclosedin the Swiss Patent No. 247,760.

in the mechanisms known prior to this invention the rocker is pivo'tedon a tubular projection of a fixed part, as for instance a bridge. Whenthe direction of displacement of the weight changes, the rocker mustpivot from one of its extreme positions to 'the other and this motionmust be controlled by forces which may overcome the friction between therocker and the tubular projection on which it is pivoting. In order toassure the development ot' such forces, the pinions carried by therocker must be mounted on the pins around which they pivot with asutlicient friction, since this friction of the pinions and that of therocker mentioned above are opposed.

These frictions, of course, reduce the efficiency of this type ofautomatic winding mechanism.

It is therefore object of the invention Ito provide an automatic windingmechanism of the type described with an increased eiciency by pivotingthe rocker on the movable weight itself Vso that the weight carries therocker. The displacements of the rocker are thus made easier.

it is another object of the invention to axiaily secure the rocker onthe weight by means of said driving pinion.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for limitingthe displacements ofthe rocker.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be `apparent duringthe course of 'the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a plan view ywhich shows the Vgeneral arrangement of anautomatic winding mechanism embodying the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section through the saine along the line ABCDE, whereby theportion AB is composed of two parts which are brought into line as shownby the arc of circle joining these parts in Fig. l.

in the drawings, in which only those elements of the watch have beenshown which are necessary for the comprehension of the invention, thenumeral 1 designates a ring-like rocker which is pivoted coaxially tothe movable weight 2. The rocker 1 is formed in one piece with twoidentical, substantially semicircular ears 3 and 4 projecting therefromand extending in the plane of the rocker 1. This rocker is punched outof -a metal strip so that the ears 3 and 4 have the same `thickness asthe rocker itself. Two pins 5 and 6 are xed each in the center of one ofthese ears and 'two identical pinions 7 and 8 rotate each on one ofs-aid pins. Each of said pins is provided with a collar 37 for axiallysecuring the pinion on the pin, a journal surface 3S on which the pinionrotates, and a portion 39 having a smaller diameter than the journal 38.The length of this portion 39 exceeds somewhat the thickness of therocker 1. These portions 39 are engaged each in an opening of the samediameter provided in the center of each ear. These two pins are set inplace on the rocker 1 wi-th the pinions 7 and 8 and then the parts ofthe portions 39 which emerge from the other side of the rocker 1 areflattened down in the form shown `by the numeral 40 in Fig. 2, so that'both pins are definitely secured to the rocker 1 with their pinions.This rocker and the two pinions mounted thereon thus constitute only onelbuilding element which permits `an easy handling by the worker who hasto assemble or disassemble the watch. The length of the journal 38exceeds somewhat `the thickness ot the pinions 7, 8 so that thesepinions have an axial clearance between the rocker 1 and the collar 37allowing the pinions to freely rotate.

The axes of these pinions move thus with the rocker 1 but they alwaysremain at the same dis-tance of the axis ot' rotation of the weight 2 sothat the pinions 7 and 8 are permanently meshing each with -a drivingpinion 9 coaxially fixed to the weight 2.

The pinions 7 and S are arranged for coming in-to meshing relation eachwith a gear wheel 10 and a countergear 11, respectively. The gear wheel10 and the countergear 11 mesh with one another and are pivoted both inthe upper and the lower bridges 12 and 13 (Fig. 2) which constitute theframe of Athe automatic winding mechanism. The bridge 13 is thetrain-wheel bridge and the bridge 12 is itself fixed onto thetrain-wheel bridge 13 by any suitable means which are not represented.

The gear wheel 10 drives the barrel arbor -hy means of a train gear ofwhich only a step down gear 14 is shown in Fig. 2.

The two extreme positions of the rocker 1, in which the movable units 7,10 and 8, 11, respectively, are in suitable meshing relation, arelimited by the bridge 12 of the automatic mechanism in which twocrescent-like notches 1S and 16 are provided. The shape of these notchesvcorresponds to that of the ears 3 and 4.

Fig. 2 shows in particular how the rocker 1 -is pivoted on the weight 2which has a tubular projection 17 on which the driving pinion 9 ispressed. -A journal surface 18 and a shoulder 22 are provided on thepinion 9 `for pivoting the rocker 1, which sits with very easy tit onthis journal surface, and for holding .said rocker axially in place,respectively. The driving pinion 9 is pressed onto the tubularprojection 17 of the weight and its shoulder 22 axially holds the rocker1 in place on the weight 2. Once the pinion 9 has been pressed onto thetubular projection 17 with the rocker 1, the weight 2,

the pinion 9, the rocker 1 and the pinions 7 and 8 constitute a singlebuilding unit which may be handled as a single element when assemblingor disassembling the watch.

yThe pivoting `axle of the movable weight 2 is constituted by a trunnion21 formed in one piece with a trunnion plate 27 which is located in ashallow sink 28 provided in the train-wheel bridge 13. .This sink 28extends to those portions of the .train-wheel bridge 13 where the lowerbearings of the gears 1t), 1'1 are provided and the walls of the sink 28therefore only surrounds the plate 27 through an angle of about 270. Thetrunnion plate 27 is maintained in the correct position within the sink28 `by means of three screws one of which is designated in Fig. 2 by thenumeral 29. The position of the sink 28 and more particularly thelocations of the screws 29 are so provided in the train wheel bridge 13that the trunnion 21 is exactly located in the center of the watchmovement. The trunnion 21 is thus coaxially disposed with the upperbearing 41 of a center wheel which may -be either the second wheel ofthe train, leading from the barrel arbor to the escapement of the watch,or a center seconds wheel or fourth wheel of the same train. ln thelatter case the the upper bearing of the second wheel is provided in anot represented intermediate bridge, located, in Fig. 2, underneath thetrainwheel bridge 13. This arrangement of the second wheel and either acenter seconds wheel or the fourth vwheel is well known in the art.

The pivoting axle of the movable weight could, however, be `fixed to thebridge 13 in any other suitable manner.

A groove 30 is provided at the top of the trunnion 21 and an elongatedsink 31 is provided in the upper surface of the weight. A metallic, thinand resilient plaquette 32 axially holds the weight 2 in place on thetrunnion 21. The shape of the plaquette 32 corresponds to that of thesink 31. This plaquette is eventually provided with an elongated slot 33enlarged at one end so as to form a circular aperture 34 having adiameter slightly larger than that of the head 35 of the trunnion 21.Two pierced jewels 42 pressed 'by force into the tubular projection 17reduce the lfriction between the weight 2 and the trunnion 21.

In order to axially key the weight 2 on the trunnion 21, the plaquette32 is so passed over the trunnion 21 that the head 3S of this trunnionis put in the aperture 34 so far that the walls of the slot 33 may beengaged in the groove 30. The plaquette 32 is then slid along itslongitudinal axis until it reaches the position shown in the drawings inwhich this plaquette is entirely lodged within the sink 31. Since theplaquette 32 is resilient, it will remain by itself in the representedposition, without providing further tixing means.

For removing the weight 2 from the trunnion 21 a sharp-pointed tool isintroduced into a recess 36 provided in the weight 2 and the plaquette32 is lifted out of the sink 31 so that it may be slid in the directionof its longitudinal axis until the circular aperture 34 may be passedover the head 35 of the trunnion 21, after which the weight 2 may befreely removed from the trunnion 21.

The movable weight could, however, be axially held in place on litspivoting axle jby any other suitable means.

The rocker 1, which sits with easy t on a journal surface solid with themovable weight (the journal surface 1S of the vdriving pinion 9), tendsto be angular-ly driven by the weight. The frictions, between both therocker 1 and the two pinions 7 and 8 and their pivoting axles, thus addtheir effects for angularly driving the rocker 1 with the weight 2.

A spring pressed pawl or detent 23 freely swings around a pipe 26pressed into the bridge 12 of the automatic winding mechanism. Theydetent 23 is axially rheld in place on the pipe 26 by a screw 20. rhisdetent is under the action of a spring 24 set around two bolts 25 alsofixed to the lower surface of the bridge 12. The spring 24 is so set asto push the detent 23 against the gear wheel 10 into the toothingthereof. The detent 23 prevents the gear wheel 10 `from rotating underthe action of the mainspring in the `direction opposite to thatindicated by the arrow 19, the ylatter direction being that of winding.

Whatever t-he direction of the motion of the weight 2 may be, it will beshown vby considering IFig. l that the gear wheel 1t) is always drivenin the direction of the arrow 19.

lf the weight 2, indeed, rotates clockwise in Fig. l, the weight carriesthe rocker 1 into the position represented in the drawings, whereby theear 4 bears against the walls of the notch 16, the pinion 8 meshes withthe counter-gear 11, and the pinion 7 rotates without useful action.

lln this case, the driving pinion 9 also rotates clockwise with theweight 2, the pinion 8 is driven counterclockwise, the counter-gear 11clockwise and the gearwheel 10 is really driven in the indicateddirection.

`If the weight 2 begins now to move counterclockwise, the driving pinion9 tends to drive the pinion clockwise. The latter, in turn, tends todrive the countergear 11 counterclockwise and the gear wheel 10clockwise. Since the gear wheel 10 is prevented from rotating in thisdirection by the detent 23, the teeth of the pinion 8 leave those of`the lcounter-gear 11 and the rocker 1, fully carried by Vthe weight 2,swings counterclockwise with the weight until the ear 3 -bears againstthe walls of the notch 15 provided in the lbridge 12. The pinion 7 comesthen in meshing relation with the gear wheel 10 and the pinion 8 rotateswithout useful action.

vIn this case, the driving pinion 9 drives the pinion 7 clockwise andthe gear wheel `10 counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow 19.

If the weight 2 then stops rotating counterclockwise and begins torotate again clockwise, the pinion 7 tends to drive the gear Wheel 10clockwise. Since this gear wheel is yprevented from rotating in thisdirection by 'the detent 23, the pinion 7 leaves the gear wheel 10 andthe rocker 1, carried by the weight 2, returns into its originalposition represented in the drawings.

`It is quite clear that the weight 2 can either be angularly entirelyfree to rotate through 360 or the displacements of the weight 2 beangularly limited by stops, without changing anything in the function ofthe winding mechanism described hereabove.

iin the previously described winding mechanism, the rocker 1 canimpossibly remain in an intermediate position, whereby none of thepinions 7 and 8 would be in meshing relation either with the gear wheel10 or with t-he counter-gear 11, as it could occur with the mechanismsknown in the art. The rocker 1, which is carried by the movable weight2, rotates, of course, with the latter until one of its pinions comesinto meshing rela- -tion with either one of the gears 10, 11.

I wish it to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shownand described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, yandthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the yspirit of the invention, or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. In an automatic winding mechanism of the type described, thecombination of an oscillatory member movable about a fixed axis andhaving a coaxial tubular projection, a driving gear pressed onto saidtubular projection, a rocker pivotally arranged about the tubularprojection of said oscillatory member and axially held in place by aportion of said member and said driving gear, two pinions rotatablyarranged on said rocker and being each in meshing relation with saiddriving gear, and pivot means extended into said tubular projection tosupport said oscillatory member for turning movement about said axis,said oscillatory member being removably connected to said pivot means sothat said oscillatory member is removable from said pivot means togetherwith Isaid driving gear, said rocker, and said pinions whereby vsaidoscillatory member, driving gear, rocker and pinions form a subassemblywhich may be removed from and connected to the mechanism as a unit.

2. `In a watch an automatic winding mechanism of the type described,comprising in combination a frame for the winding mechanism, anoscillatory1 member carried by said frame for free turning movementabout a xed axis, a driving gear coaxially fixed to said member forturning movement therewith, a rocker carried by said member and being soarranged as to pivot on said member coaxially thereto, two earsprojecting from said rocker and extending in the plane thereof, two pinsfixed each in one of said ears, two pinions pivoted each on one of saidpins and being each in meshing relation with said driving gear, twonotches ybeing provided in a portion of said fra-me located in saidplane, the form of said notches corresponding to that of said ears, eachof said notches cooperating with one of said ears for limiting thelangular displacements of said rocker in one direction and a pair ofadditional gears meshing with each other and supported at least in partfor turning movement by said portion of said frame, one Iof saidadditional gears meshing with one of said pinions when one of said earscooperates with one of said notches and the other of said additionalgears meshing with the other of said pinions when the other of said earscooperates with the other of said notches.

3. In a watch an automatic winding mechanism comprising in combination atrunnion, a xed frame carrying said trunnion, an oscillatory memberpivotally arranged on lsaid trunuion and having a coaxial tubularprojection, a driving gear pressed onto said tubular projection, aring-like rocker pivotally arranged about said tubular projection andbeing axially maintained in place by said driving gear, two semicircularears projecting from said rocker and substantially extending each in theplane thereof, two pins fixed each in one of said ears, two pinionspivoted each on one of said pins and being each in meshing relation withsaid driving gear, two additional gears meshing with one another andbeing pivoted in said frame, said gears being so disposed as to bealternately driven each by one of the pinions carried vby said rocker,two notches being provided in a portion lof said frame located in saidplane, the form of said notches corresponding to that of said ears, eachof said notches cooperating with one ot said ears vfor limiting theangular displacements of said rocker in one direction and meansreleasably holding said oscillatory member on said trunnion so that saidoscillatory member together with said driving gear, rocker, and pinionsmay be removed from and replaced on said trunnion as a unit.

4. The combination of claim 3, whereby the driving gear has a shoulderand a coaxial journal surface and the rocker pivots on said journalsurface and is axially held in place by said shoulder.

5. yIn a watch as dened in claim 2, said portion of said frame being abridge of the watch movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,506,562 Wait May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 704,910 France Mar. 2, l93i1247,760 fSwitZerland Ian. 3, 1948 281,806 `Switzerland Nov. 12, 1949273,138 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1951

